The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will conduct supplementary and rerun elections in Taraba and Enugu states, respectively, on February 14, 2024. Additionally, the suspended re-run election in Kunchi/Tsanyawa State Constituency, Kano State, will be held at a later date. This information was conveyed in a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, on Tuesday.
On February 3, 2024, by-elections were held in nine constituencies to fill vacant seats resulting from the death or resignation of members elected during the 2023 general elections in both the National and State Houses of Assembly.
The statement provided updates on the election outcomes, noting that bye-elections were successfully concluded in all designated constituencies, except for the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency. In this constituency, the final declaration was postponed due to overvoting in certain polling units, affecting the margin of lead between the candidates with the highest number of votes. Details of these affected polling units were expected to be published.
Disruptions occurred during re-run elections at two polling units in the Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, and across all polling units in the Enugu South State Constituency of Enugu State, and Kunchi/Tsanyawa State constituency of Kano State, due to violence, thuggery, and the hijacking of election materials. As a result, the commission had previously suspended the re-run elections in these areas in accordance with Section 24(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.
Following additional reports, INEC supports the Returning Officer’s decision to announce results in the Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency, as the number of registered voters in the two affected polling units did not impact the overall election outcome. Consequently, a supplementary election in Taraba State and a new re-run election in Enugu State are scheduled for Wednesday, February 14, 2024. The election in Kunchi/Tsanyawa State Constituency will be held at a later date, considering security concerns and further discussions with security agencies and stakeholders.
INEC urged all eligible voters and stakeholders in the impacted polling units in Taraba and Enugu States to participate peacefully in the upcoming elections and support their preferred candidates.
